The 29th NCBD @ Museo Pambata

Russel Molina accepts the 2012 Salanga Prize

After months of preparation, the PBBY has concluded the 29th NCBD celebration at Museo Pambata. The Salanga and Alcala Prizes were awarded to Russell Molina and Hubert Fucio respectively. Honorable mentions: Dang Bagas and Jun Matias for the Salanga and Jonathan Ranilla and Aldy Aguirre were given their plaques as well. Tarie Sabido was inducted as new board representative for book bloggers/book reviewers and I did a tandem telling of Anong Gupit Natin Ngayon, the winning Salanga of 2012, with Abs de Lina of Batibot. Museo Pambata people, Nina Lim Yuson, Maricel "Mamu" Montero and Noreen "Tich" Parafina were such warm hosts. The PBY Secretariat and staff were so efficient, as always, that this year's 29th NCBD was indeed a humorously successful affair.

Teacher Dina Ocampo gave a brilliant keynote on language, reading and mother tongue. It was a keynote where in everyone meaningfully derived nuggets of learning on the use of one's mother tongue. Indeed, language plays a great role in reading and writing development as well as the context. The intermission number by The Minstrels of Hope was a delight.

The Minstrels of Hope

I met old friends - CLAPI, Librarians from Manila and the National Library of the Philippines, Neni SR Cruz who is now Chairman of the National Book Development Board, and finally, met Honey de Peralta and Paolo Chikiamco in person. I was also able to touch base with my former grad school professor, Lina Diaz de Rivera who gave me a copy of her recent book, Teaching Filipino Novels, published by Anvil.

Thank you to those who celebrated NCBD in their schools and learning communities: Teacher Jerson Capuyan of St. La School, Rochelle Siverio, Cynthia Sumagaysay Del Rosario, OMF-Hiyas Publication to mention a few. In the coming days, I will post pictures you sent and activities you had with your kids.

Until next NCBD! Magbasa sa Sariling Wika!

Pinoy Kids & YA Lit Fest in July

It appears that a line-up of literary events for children and teens are scheduled this month of July. Not only are these events for kids and teens, but also, for the adults who create and produce literature for them. Here's the litany --

Phil Speculative Fiction Vol. 7 Book Launching - July 28, 2012 / 2PM @ Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf, Shangrila Plaza, Edsa. Ebook formats of previous PSF volumes are available in Amazon and in Flip Reads.

Cyan Abad-Jugo's book, Singkit: A 1980s Diary (Anvil) will be launched on July 21, 2012 / 3PM @ Powerbooks, Greenbelt. There's a press release on Cyan and her writing experiences in the Inquirer. Go read Cyan's writing journey!


On the same day, the 1st Kwentillion Young Adult Readers Carnival is scheduled to take place at National Book Store Best Sellers, Robinson's Galleria. The event will begin at 1PM. Paolo Chikiamco of Rocket Kapre blogs about the panel of YA creators who will speak on their art and their craft. I'm attending this event since I'm eager to get Budjette Tan's autograph. Also, the YA Game sounds interesting. Maybe it's something I can replicate in the school library. 

In the library scene, school librarians of the CLAPI (Children's Literature Association of the Philippines, Inc.) has organized a seminar on K-12 Curriculum and Reading. This will be held at the Epifanio delos Santos Hall, National Library of the Philippines, T. M. Kalaw, Manila on July 24, 2012 from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon. Php300.00 as registration fee, For further inquiries, you may contact Ms. Melba A. Tablizo of the National Library of the Philippines at +02 3105033 and/or Mrs. Leonila S. Galvez of DepEd, Manila at +02 2512859 / +02 2546162.

On July 17, PBBY will be awarding the Salanga Prize and the Alcala Prize to Russell Molina and Hubert Fucio respectively. It's the 29th NCBD and I'll try my best to update you all via Facebook and Twitter (live) as the ceremony rolls along. Dean Dina Ocampo will give the keynote address on the theme of mother tongue based instruction. Tarie Sabido, book reviewer and book blogger par excellence will be inducted as new PBBY board member.

And of course, the 2nd Best Reads-National Children's Book Awards will be held at the Mind Museum in Taguig City.

Lastly, Scholastic and Anvil are conducting book sales as I write this. Anvil dubbed their sale as Young Adult and Children's Book Festival and Scholastic promotes their 10th year anniversary with the 10 Deals for 10 Years warehouse sale.

Take your pick. Read! Read! Read!

The 29th National Children's Book Day